Robert Friedman, Esq. – Florida Insurance Lawyer

Robert Friedman is nationally-recognized as one of the leading Florida insurance lawyers exclusively representing policyholders.  Mr. Friedman acts as outside coverage counsel to some of the largest and most respected corporations in Florida.

Before starting his own law firm in 2011, Robert Friedman served as head of the Insurance Coverage Practice at Gunster in West Palm Beach, where he founded the firm’s insurance practice in 2006.  Before joining Gunster, Mr. Friedman worked for seven years in the Insurance Coverage group of Dickstein Shapiro LLP in New York.  Prior to that, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Friedman graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1998 and at the top of his class at Cornell University in 1995.  He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, among other courts.

Mr. Friedman has written extensively about insurance coverage and other legal issues for national and regional publications, including National Underwriter, Business Insurance, Risk & Insurance, Daily Business Review, South Florida Business Journal, and the Harvard Law Record.  He has been quoted as an expert on insurance law issues in numerous national and local publications.  He is a regular faculty member for Strafford Publications’ CLE programs on insurance law, and serves on Strafford’s insurance law advisory board.  He has presented seminars on insurance topics to business and legal groups nationwide, including the Florida Bar and Practicing Law Institute.  He also has advised the State of Florida on insurance policy issues.

Mr. Friedman has served on the board of directors of the alumni association of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell, as well as the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.  He currently serves on the board of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.

Speaking Engagements

• Construction Law in Florida, The Seminar Group, October 13, 2021
• Assignment of Insurance Benefits Contracts: Resolving AOB Claims and Defending AOB Lawsuits, Strafford Publications, January 21, 2021
• CGL Exclusions: Contractual Liability, Business Risk, Third-Party Over, Pollution, and Data Breach Exclusions, Strafford Publications, November 11, 2020
• Risk Transfer – Contractual Indemnity and Additional Insured Coverage in Construction, The Seminar Group, August 7, 2020
• Self-Insured Retentions and Deductibles: Key Coverage Issues, Strafford Publications, July 22, 2020
• Insurance Litigation and Work Product: Obtaining or Protecting Documents in Coverage and Bad Faith Claims, Strafford Publications, January 15, 2020
• Assignment of Benefits in Insurance Claims: Recent Trends, Court Decisions, and Practical Guidance, Strafford Publications, October 16, 2019
• Insurance in the Construction Industry, The Seminar Group, August 13, 2019
• Deductibles and SIRs: Coverage Issues, Florida Bar RPPTL Insurance & Surety Committee, December 17, 2018
• CGL Exclusions: Contractual Liability, Business Risk, Third-Party Over, Pollution, and Data Breach Exclusions, Strafford Publications, October 23, 2018
• Practical Tips to Understanding Construction Insurance and the Gaps in Coverage, Contractor’s University, a program of the Florida Bar RPPTL Insurance & Surety Committee, April 26, 2018
• Insurance SIRs and Deductibles: Impact on Satisfaction of SIRs, Policy Limits, Duty to Defend and Additional Insureds, Strafford Publications, March 8, 2016
• Practical Tips to Understanding Construction Insurance and the Gaps in Coverage, Contractor’s University, a program of the Florida Bar RPPTL Insurance & Surety Committee, September 22, 2015
• Interpreting Insurance Policies: Rules of Construction, Florida Bar RPPTL Insurance & Surety Committee, August 17, 2015
• Construing Insurance Policy Language: Doctrine of Reasonable Expectations, Illusory Coverage and More, Strafford Publications, August 12, 2015
• CGL Exclusions: Navigating Contractual Liability, Business Risk, Third-Party Over, and Data Breach Exclusions, Strafford Publications, April 16, 2014
• Insurance Litigation and Work Product, Strafford Publications, January 22, 2014
• Self-Insured Retentions and Deductibles: Key Coverage Issues, Strafford Publications, August 21, 2013
• Insurance Policy Interpretation: Key Rules for Insurers and Insureds, Strafford Publications, January 31, 2013
• Deductibles and SIRs: Coverage Issues, Strafford Publications, October 3, 2012
• Basics of Insurance Law, Practicing Law Institute, May 26, 2005

Representative Litigation Matters 

• Publix Super Markets, Inc. v. Tri-County Sweeping Services, Inc., et al. (Polk Cty., FL No. 2023-CA-005430)
• The Burlington Insurance Company v. Dockside View, LLC, et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 22-cv-14368)
• Mt. Hawley Insurance Company v. Plymouth Plaza, LLC (S.D. Fla. No. 22-cv-62333)
• Publix Super Markets, Inc. v. ACE Property and Casualty Insurance Company, et al. (M.D. Fla. No. 22-cv-02569)
• Hardaway v. Publix Super Markets, Inc. (Palm Beach Cty., FL No. 2021-CA-009806)
• National Casualty Company v. Equinox Holdings, Inc., et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 21-cv-24365)
• Westport Insurance Company v. Jonathan P. Cohen, P.A., et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 21-cv-62495)
• Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. v. Zurich American Insurance Company (S.D. Fla. No. 20-cv-82217)
• Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. v. Commerce & Industry Insurance Company (M.D. Fla. No. 20-cv-01256)
• Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. v. The Travelers Indemnity Company, et al. (D.S.C. No. 20-cv-02017)
• Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. v. The Phoenix Insurance Company (N.D. Ga. No. 20-cv-02271)
• Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. v. Action Electric Co., Inc. (Hillsborough Cty., Florida No. 2020-CA-004541)
• The ADT Security Corporation et al. v. Zurich American Insurance Company, et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 2019-CA-015744)
• Mid-Continent Casualty Company v. Westport Custom Homes, Inc., et al. (Collier Cty., Florida No. 2019-CA-001196)
• In re: Magnum Construction Management, LLC (S.D. Fla. Bankr. No. 19-cv-12821)
• Saddle Creek Corporation v. Lexington Insurance Company, Arbitration (Polk Cty., Florida)
• Howell v. Palmdale Oil Company LLC et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 2016-CA-013844)
• Arnet Pharmaceutical Corporation v. Great American Insurance Company of New York (S.D. Fla. No. 16-cv-62516)
• B/E Aerospace, Inc. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (S.D. Fla. No. 16-cv-81293)
• Florida Municipal Insurance Trust v. Acme Improvement District, et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 2016-CA-002660)
• 250 Mountain Laurel Condominium Association, et al. v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company (Pitkin Cty., CO No. 2016CV30106)
• The Prudential Insurance Company of America v. Chelchowski, et al. (D.N.J. No. 16-cv-00258)
• Omran v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., et al. (Duval Cty., Florida No. 2015-CA-007922)
• Hartford Insurance Company of the Southeast v. Professional Underwriting Group, Inc. (S.D. Fla. No. 15-81479)
• Broadwater Marine, Ltd., et al. v. ACE American Insurance Company (E.D. Wis. No. 15-01193)
• Publix Super Markets, Inc., et al. v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company (M.D. Fla. No. 14-02736)
• Black Bear Reserve Homeowner’s Assoc., Inc., et al. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am., et al. (Lake Cty., Florida No. 14-CA-000634)
  
• QBE Specialty Insurance Company v. Walt Disney World Co., et al. (M.D. Fla. No. 13-01935)
  
• Sandra Bullock v. United States Jewelry Liquidators, et al., Arbitration (Los Angeles Cty., CA)
• Queens Ballpark Co., L.L.C. v. Endurance Reinsurance Corporation of America, et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 12-12171)
• Markel International Insurance Co. Ltd. v. SPD Group, Inc. (S.D. Fla. No. 12-60847)
• Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Co. v. Area Agency on Aging for Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Inc. (S.D. Fla. No. 12-80207)
• Dr. Scott J. Swerdlin v. Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 2012-CA-021807)
• Kathleen Davis v. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., et al. (Orange Cty., Florida No. 2011-CA-007156)
• In re: Publix Super Markets, Inc. and MCW-RCSC-Merchants Village, LLC, Arbitration (Charleston Cty., SC)
• Federal Ins. Co. v. Commerce and Industry Ins. Co., et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 11-652275)
  
• Continental Casualty Co. v. Devcon Intl. Corp., et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 11-cv-60050)
• Sporting Products, LLC, et al. v. Pacific Ins. Co., Ltd. (S.D. Fla. No. 10-cv-80656)
• Willowbend Development, LLC, et al. v. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (S.D. Fla. No. 10-CV-81564)
• Jewish Association for Services for the Aged v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 10-116041)
• Pacific Insurance Co., LTD., et al. v. Kolter City Plaza, II, LLC (S.D. Fla. No. 10-CV-81464)
• Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Anderson Builders, Inc., et al. (Martin Cty., Florida No. 10-2448CA)
• SolarBlue, LLC v. Trebor Power Systems and Onity, Inc. (Orange Cty., FL, No. 482010CA011924A001)
• Riot, Inc. v. Service Glass of Ocala, Inc. et al. (Lake Cty., FL, No. 2010-CA-004741)
• TOUSA, Inc. et al. v. Federal Insurance Company, et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 09-02281)
• Innovative Biometric Technology, LLC v. Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., et al. (S.D. Fla. No. 9:09-cv-81046)
• Vecellio v.  Addison Construction Corporation, et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 502009CA040005)
• Federal Ins. Co. and Pavex Corp., AAA Arbitration No. 33 195 Y 00422 08
• Pavex Corporation v. Federal Insurance Company (M.D. Fla. No. 09-CV-1763)
• Kemper Insurance Companies v. Gator Apple, LLC (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 502009CA026299)
• Lower Fees, Inc. v. Bankrate, Inc., et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 502008-CA-035421)
• In re: United States Sugar Corporation Litigation (S.D. Fla. No. 08-80101)
• 2047 Palm Beach Lakes Partners, LLC v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (S.D. Fla. No. 08-CV-81189)
• Washington Mutual Bank v. Zurich American Insurance Co. (M.D. Fla. No. 08-cv-597)
• East 77 Owners Co., L.L.C. v. King Sha Group, Inc., et al., (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 07-603340)
• Devcon International Corp., et al. v. Reliance Insurance Company, et al. (3^rd Cir. Nos. 07-4602, 08-1996)
• Mercer v. European Wax Center, Inc. (S.D. Fla. No. 08-cv-20611)
• The Lexington Insurance Company, Inc. v. Old Port Cove Lake Point Tower Condominium Association, Inc., et al. (Palm Beach Cty., Florida No. 50-2007-CA-003788)
• Pacsan Management Corp. v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, et al. (Los Angeles Cty., CA No. BC402355)
• Jones v. Swanson Services Corp. (M.D. Tenn. No. 06cv00002)
• Urban Decay Cosmetics, LLC et al. v. New York Marine and General Insurance Company (S.D. Fla. No. 06-61610)
• Michael McLaughlin et al. v. Sterling Mets, L.P. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 05-16512)
• Michael Blank and Pamela Stephany v. Bank Julius Baer & Co., Ltd., AAA Arbitration No. 32 160 00485 04
• ABT Building Products Corp. et. al v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. (W.D.N.C., No. 01CV100-V; 4th Cir. No. 05-1739)
• Arch Wood Protection, Inc. v. Aon Corp., et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 05-603714)
• RPM, Inc., et al. v. Chubb Custom Ins. Co., et al. (Cuyahoga Cty., Ohio, No. CV 05578004)
• Warner-Lambert Company, LLC, et al. v. AIU Insurance Company, et al. (Middlesex Cty., N.J. No. MID-L-006614-04)
• Alexander v. Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam, et al. (E.D.N.Y., 04-cv-00760)
• Columbia Casualty Company, et al. v. Arjo Wiggins Appleton P.L.C., et al. (Brown Cty., W.I., No. 05-CV-36)
• American Express v. Visa, MasterCard, et al. (S.D.N.Y., No. 04 CV 08967)
• Discover Financial Services, Inc. v. Visa, MasterCard, et al. (S.D.N.Y., No. 04 CV 7844)
• Employers Insurance Co. of Wausau v. Olin Corp., et al. (S.D.N.Y. No. 03 Civ. 4516)
• Gerling America Insurance Co. v. Hickson Building Products, LTD., et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 03-601082)
• American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Co., et al. v. Osmose, Inc. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 01-604517)
• Zurich American Ins. Co. v. Hickson USA Corp. (Cobb Cty., Ga. 01-1-07640-34)
• Abitibi-Consolidated, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., et al. (S.D. Ala. No. 00-0277)
• National Basketball Association, et al. v. Orca Bay Basketball Limited Partnership, et al. (S.D.N.Y. No. 01 Civ. 9535)
• In Re: Vitamins Antitrust Litigation (D.D.C.  MDL No. 1285)
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. v. Allstate Insurance Co., et al. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. No. 98-600142)
• Philips Electronics N.V., et al. v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA (Cook Cty., Il. No. 96-L-5634)
• Olin Corp. v. Insurance Company of North America, et al. (S.D.N.Y., No. 84 Civ. 1968)